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Startup UP Recognition & Incentives
Uttar Pradesh's Startup Policy 2026, approved by the State Cabinet on 6 July 2026, replaces the 2020 policy. Its incentives are routed through recognised incubators, so the order of steps matters: DPIIT recognition, StartinUP recognition and incubation come before any grant application.
Status (checked 4 Oct 2026): the policy is valid for five years from notification. We could not verify the gazette notification date. Per the policy, the 2020 policy applies until notification and pending cases get a three-month window to switch. Confirm the operative policy with your incubator before applying.
Eligibility in outline
- Recognition by DPIIT (see DPIIT recognition) and by StartinUP, the state startup portal.
- Incubation at a StartinUP-recognised incubator, with the incubator's recommendation. Scaling-stage startups are exempt from the incubation requirement.
Main financial incentives (UP Startup Policy 2026)
| Incentive | Terms as stated in the policy |
|---|---|
| Sustenance allowance | ₹20,000 per month for 2 years |
| Prototype grant | Up to ₹10 lakh (70% upfront, 30% as reimbursement) |
| Seed capital | Up to ₹15 lakh; ₹15 lakh to ₹50 lakh considered case to case |
| Matching grant | 50% of funds raised, up to ₹5 crore (minimum raise ₹2 crore) |
| Interest subvention | 4% on term loans up to ₹2 crore, for 3 years |
| PF / ESI | Employer contribution reimbursed for 3 years |
| Patents and quality certification | 100% up to ₹50 lakh; 75% for ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore; 50% for ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore |
| Accelerator fees | Tier 1: 75% up to ₹3 lakh; Tier 2: 50% up to ₹2 lakh; Tier 3: 50% up to ₹1 lakh; maximum two programmes |
| Events | 50%, up to ₹50,000 (domestic) or ₹2 lakh (international) |
| Compute | 50% of spend above ₹50,000, up to ₹2 lakh a year |
Deep-tech startups can receive up to twice the prototype and seed grants, and the policy provides for Patience Capital and a royalty-based R&D matching grant. Startups led by women, EWS, Divyang or transgender founders (51% or more holding), startups registered in Purvanchal or Bundelkhand, and those in agritech, circular economy, rural impact, waste, renewable energy and climate get 50% more on seed and prototype grants. 25% of incubation seats are reserved for women-led startups.
Source: UP Startup Policy 2026 (English); Invest UP: UP Startup Policy 2026
How to apply
- 1
Register on StartinUP
Create the startup profile and apply for StartinUP recognition with your DPIIT certificate.
- 2
Get incubated
Join a recognised incubator that fits your sector; it evaluates the startup and issues a recommendation.
- 3
Apply for the incentive
File the incentive application online with the documents the policy annexures list: certificates, incubation agreement, recommendation, financials and pitch deck.
- 4
Evaluation and approval
The application is evaluated by the State committee (SRCE) and approved by the Project Implementation Unit.
How we help
We check eligibility against the policy, prepare the financials and use-of-funds plan an incubator and the evaluation committee will look for, and keep your company compliant so a grant is never held up by a missed filing. For live calls and central grants, see Startup Funding & Grants: Live Updates.
Sources
Scheme terms change; verify on the official portal; last checked 4 Oct 2026. This page is general information for planning, not a guarantee of eligibility, sanction or disbursement. See our Terms of Use & Disclaimer.
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